Ashtray structure

ABSTRACT

Ashtray structures having large containers to receive the ashes and butts of cigarettes, and the like, wherein the container lid is supported inside of the container wall so that the lid is not dislodged when the container is lifted, the lid having a downwardly and inwardly sloping surface having cigarette supporting notches in an upwardly extending rim located at its lower edge for supporting cigarettes safely, the lid having an opening of limited size therethrough disposed to prevent ashes from blowing from the container. In some forms, snubbers are provided adjacent the ash and butt receptacle space.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert D. Moore 1,745,761 2/1930Hiering 131/235 8124 Lockheed, Houston, Tex. 77018 1,936,303 11/1933Jiran 131/233 21 Appl. No. 847,782 2,221,300 11/1940 Kelly 131/231 [22]Filed July 17, 1969 2,250,178 7/1941 Brush 131/240 [45] Patented May25,1971 2,340,618 2/1944 Schiszler 131/242X Continuation-impart ofapplication Ser. No. 2,536,480 1/1951 Wheler 131/242 773,994, Nov.7,}968, now abandoned. 2,662,532 12/1953 Lyon 131/242 2,950,721 8/1960Aghnides 131/235 FOREIGN PATENTS 289,727 5/1928 Great Britain 131/231584 350 1/1947 Great Britain 131/242 [54] ASHTRAY STRUCTURE 3 Claims 5Drawing Figs. 618,418 2/1949 Great Britain Primary Examiner.loseph S.Reich 52 US. Cl 131/242 I 1 131/235 Attorney-Carl B. Fox,.lr. [51] Int.Cl. ..A24f 19/02,

A24f19/l4 ABSTRACT: Ashtray structures having large containers to [50]Field of Search 131/231, receive the ashes and butts of cigarettes andthe like, wherein 242 the container lid is supported inside of thecontainer wall so that the lid is not dislodged when the container islifted, the lid [56] References Cn'ed having a downwardly and inwardlysloping surface having UNITED STATES PATENTS cigarette supportingnotches in an upwardly extending rim D106,l28 9/1937 Shore 13l/240UXlocated at its lower edge for supporting cigarettes safely, the Dl47,72010/ 1947 Dean 131/242UX lid having an opening of limited sizetherethrough disposed to D155,524 10/ 1949 McDonald.. 13l/240UX preventashes from blowing from the container. In some Dl70,177 8/1953 Wood l31/231X forms, snubbers are provided adjacent the ash and butt recep-1,678,406 7/1928 Rue 131/237 tacle space.

I I v 6' /37 A23 /46 A /68 Patented "May 25, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Robe/v .5. Moore INVEN'I'OR.

By (M ATTORNEY ASHTRAY STRUCTURE This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 773,994, filed Nov. 7,1968, entitled ASHTRAY STRUCTURES" and which is now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention is that ofcontainer-type ashtrays, which contain ashes and butts within anenclosed receptacle space. Such ashtrays have conventionally beendifi'icult to empty and clean, and in many models adapted for placementupon card tables, end tables, and the like, have been of small capacitywhereby they must be emptied often, frequently with resultant spillingand blowing of the contents, causing objectionable dirt and odors.Ashtrays of most designs do not include reliable cigarette holdingmeans, with the result that falling out of cigarettes is not infrequent,and placement of cigarettes therein is an attention-requiring step inorder to prevent falling or dropping of the cigarette. Ashes frequentlyblow readily from many ashtrays, making their use dirty anddisagreeable. In the case of most ashtrays, either the ashtray isdifficult to dissemble for emptying and cleaning, or comes apartunintentionally when moved or lifted causing spillage. The presentinvention is intended to solve all of these problems, as well as others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to ashtrays each having adishlike ash and butt container, closed by a cover which includes acigarette supporting rim adjacent to an ash-receiving opening, the coverbeing of downwardly inclined form toward the opening whereby cigarettesplaced thereon will not be subject to falling therefrom, the cover beingsupported around its outer periphery, whereby when the container ismoved or lifted the cover is not readily dislodged. The container, insome forms, is provided with an upstanding pedestal which terminatesupwardly centrally adjacent the cigarette supporting rim of the cover,to provide readily accessible snubbing surfaces from which ashes,burning tobacco, and butts fall directly and unfailingly into thecontainer. If desired, a spiral cigarette holder may be provided, whichextends upwardly from the pedestal and augments the cigarette-holdingfacilities of the aforementioned cigarette-holding facilities of theaforementioned cigarette-holding rim of the cover.

In one form, separate butt and ash, and fire-end, receiving spaces areprovided, and butt smoldering is eliminated.

The ashtray may be shaped circularly or may be of other suitable shape,such as square, rectangular, triangular, heart shaped, or of any otherregular or irregular straight and/or curved forms.

The objects and advantages of the invention, some of which arespecifically pointed out, will appear from the detailed descriptionwhich follows, and from the showings of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferredembodiment of ashtray according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ashtray of FIG. 1,taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an ashtray similar to thatshown in FIGS. 1--2, but of modified form.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of still another preferred form of ashtrayaccording to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ashtray of FIG. 4,taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to thedrawings in detail, the ashtray shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a containerbody 11 having an upwardly divergent conical surrounding sidewall 12, aflat annular bottom wall 13, and an upstanding conical center portion14. Body 11 is shown integrally formed, as is preferred, but may befabricated from separate elements. The bottom may, if desired, be formedas a complete circle, with the conical element 14 mounted centrallythereon. Body 11 may be formed of metal, fireproof plastic, or othersuitable fire proof material, or of a combination of such materials.

Cover 16 is of circular annular shape, and is supported around its edgeupon recessed ledge 17 extending inwardly unifomtly preferablycompletely around the interior of container, or dish, 11. Ledge 17 maybe discontinuous, but should be provided at sufficient properly deployedlengths around the periphery of cover 16 so that cover 16 does not tiltwhen pressure is applied at any point or points of its upper surface.

Cover 16 is flat at its peripheral portion 19, which seats upon ledge17, and interiorly thereof is conically sloped downwardly, to terminateinwardlyat upturned circular rim or flange 20, which has spacedtherearound a plurality of cigarette holding slots or notches 22. Asshown in FIG. 2, a cigarette 23 placed through one of the notches 22,with its lighted end 25 extending into cover opening 26 within rim 20,above pedestal l4, lies flat, downwardly across the conical uppersurface of cover 16, so that the cigarette will not fall off of thecover, even though it might by chance burn diagonally upwardly past theslot 22, which is unlikely, since the slot will usually prevent burningof the cigarette therepast. A loose cigarette on the cover will rolldownwardly to against rim 20, to be safely held. As shown, the slots 22may be inclined from a radial position so that cigarettes held indifferent slots will not meet at the center, and will not engage wire30, if same is provided.

Pedestal 14, at its apex 27, may be provided with an opening 28 intowhich is screwed the lower threaded end of helically spiralled wire 30,in the form of a spring having a lower shank 31, threaded at its lowerend, and an upper loop 32. Loop 32 is preferably made large enough toreceive a persons finger, for lifting of the ashtray. The ashtray isconvenient for use whether or not the spiral wire 30 is provided, aswill be clear.

The upper surface of conical pedestal 14 is convenient and useful as asurface against which snub out cigarettes when smoking thereof iscompleted. After snubbing, the cigarette when released will falldirectly into container 11, as will the ashes and ignited paper andtobacco from the snubbed end of the cigarette.

When the ashtray is picked up or moved by grasping opposite outer sidesof container 11, the cover will not be accidentally dislodged, as thecover edges are not exposed to the fingers. Preferably, the ashtray ismade large enough that cover 16 will support most of the length of acigarette laid thereacross with an end portion received in one of theslots 22, so that the cigarette will be adequately supported. A diameterof about 6 inches is convenient and adequate. Dish container 11 shouldbe sufficiently deep to have large ash and butt capacity, so thatinfrequent emptying will be necessary. During lengthy contract bridge orpoker sessions, infrequent necessity for emptying is a greatconvenience.

The normal diameter of a cigarette is about five-sixteenths of an inch.The slots 22 are therefore preferably made five-sixteenths of an inch inwidth-at their upper ends, but of slightly narrowed, say ninethirty-seconds inch width at their lower ends, the curved bottom ends ofthe slots being nine sixtyfourths inch in radius. The slight compressionof a cigarette placed in a slot will effectively unfailingly hold thecigarette in place in the slot, yet will not so compress the cigaretteas to damage it.

The wire 30 should be formed in a helical spiral having angular wirespacings, between turns, of nine thirty-seconds inch, or other dimensionslightly less than the cigarette diameter, so that a cigarette placedbetween adjacent turns of the spiral will be easily inserted yet befirmly but removably held against falling. Wire 30 should be eitherspring wire (metal or fireproof plastic), or at least sufficientlyresilient to holding cigarettes in place as described. As will beevident, cigarettes may be placed at any point along the spiral, severalat one time, as each turn of the spiral presents cigarette holdingspaces not conflicting with similar spaces of other turns of the helicalspiral. When the spiral is provided, cigarettes may be scraped orsnubbed thereagainst if desired.

Cigarettes are easily inserted through opening 26 into the container 11,yet, since the container is mostly covered, smoke and odor emissionstherefrom are not excessive. Since cover edge 19 preferably fitscontinuously around ledge 17, smoke and odor leaks around the cover edgewill be slight.

Ashes will not be readily blown out of the ashtray, since draftsthereacross will not tend to enter through opening 26 of cover 16. Rimassists in prevention of the entering of drafts into the container.

The upper edge of rim 20 is at a level below the upper rim of container11, so that a cigarette placed across these two rims, not in a slot 22,will slant downward toward the center of the ashtray, and will not belikely to fall out of the ashtray. Therefore, regardless of the positionthat a cigarette is placed in the ashtray, it will be safely held andsupported, and will not fall therefrom.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the ashtray 110 includes adishlike container 111 having an upstanding pedestal formation 114upwardly from its bottom at the center. A circular wall 112 and anannular bottom 113 merge smoothly at their junctures, and with pedestal114. The annularly formed cover 116, which is sloped downwardly towardits center, rests about its periphery upon the bevelled shoulder 117forming the upper edge of the container body.

A plurality of circularly spaced pairs of upstanding formations 120 areprovided about the inner periphery of cover 116, the elements 120 ofeach pair being spaced to hold a cigarette securely therebetween. As inthe earlier described embodiment, a cigarette laid downwardly inclinedupon the cover and held between elements 120 is secure against fallingfrom the ashtray. If desired, a continuous rim having cigaretteretaining slots, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, may beprovided instead of the elements 120, and the elements 120 may bealternatively provided if desired in the ashtray shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

At its upper end, the pedestal 114 has an upwardly opening recess 125 inits upper end. This recess has a circular horizontal cross section atits upper end and is adapted to receive the burning end of a cigaretteinserted thereinto, for the purpose of snubbing out the burning end ofthe cigarette. Although ashes may remain in the lower end of recess 125after the snubbing out of one or more cigarettes, it has been found thatthe recess does not become filled with ashes to be unfit for use insnubbing out of cigarettes. The upper end of pedestal 114 is preferablyabout level with the upper edge of container body 111, but may ifdesired be at a higher or lower level.

The underside of pedestal 114 may be hollow as shown in the drawings, orthe ashtray may be constructed so that the pedestal is of solidconstruction, not hollowed at its underside.

In order that the cover will remain securely in place even when theashtray is grasped from opposite sides, the cover is provided withpreferably at least three downwardly extending lugs 127 adapted to bearagainst the interior face of the container body sidewall to preventsideways movements of the cover. These should be substantially equallycircularly spaced about the underside of the cover to provide protectionagainst sideways movements in any direction.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the ashtray 130 shown therein includes acontainer body 131 of generally rectangular shape. integral sidewalls132, 133, 134, 135 together with integral bottom 136 make up thecontainer body 131. The interior of the container is divided by anupstanding partition 139 formed by merging upwardly curved walls 140,141 which proceed from opposite sides of the container bottom to mergetogether at their upper ends. The partition 139 extends completelyacross the container, between sidewalls 134, 135, and is spaced moreclosely from sidewall 133 and farther from sidewall 132. Therefore, thecontainer space 146 is of larger size than container space 147.

At its inner side, each of the sidewalls 134, has an upwardly facingV-shaped ledge or shoulder 149, these shoulders being of about thethickness of the upper part of the sidewalls and extending therealongtheir full lengths. Shoulders 149 support the cover of the ashtray whenit is placed thereon.

The cover of the ashtray consists of two end portions 151, 152, in theform of vertical walls or panels, each of which is V- shaped at itslower edge and which rests upon the opposite shoulders 149 of sidewalls134, 135. Outer edge portion of angular cover plate 161 rests along thebeveled upper edge of sidewall 132, and outer edge portion 164 ofangular cover plate 165 rests along the similarly beveled upper edge ofsidewall 133. The plates 161, 165 are integrally formed with the coverend panels 151, 152 and extend therebetween. Plate 161 covers asubstantial portion of the top of space 146, and

plate 165 substantially completely covers the upper opening of space147. One or more triangular (or other) shaped lugs 168 are provided ateach side of the underside of the cover to prevent cover movements offof seats 149 toward walls 132, 133.

An upstanding rim 170 extends across the inner edge of plate 161 betweenend panels 151, 152. A series of spaced cigarette holding notches 171are formed therein, so that a cigarette laid angularly downwardly acrossplate 161 and secured in one of the notches 171 is fully supported andwill not be likely to fall from the ashtray, similarly as in theembodiment of the invention shown in F 168. 1-3.

Plate 165 has one or more spaced notches 175 from along its lower inneredge, these being provided either in the same number as the cigaretteholding notches 171, or in different number. The notches or openings 175are provided for breaking off of the burning ends of cigarettes andintroduction thereof to beneath the plate 165, within space 147.Therefore, space 147 is provided to receive the cigarette fire-ends,which are quickly burned out so that only ashes therefrom remain inspace 147. The edge of notches 175 may be used to break off thefire-ends from the butts, the butts being placed into space 146 forstorage with the ashes dropped thereinto during the course of thesmoking of a cigarette. This prevents continuation of smoke emanationfrom butts once they have been placed into the receptacle space 146.Ashes from burning cigarettes are introduced downwardly through theopening between the edges of plates 161, 165 into the receiver space146.

As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, the butts andashes are received into semienclosed spaces from which ashes are notreadily blown. The rim 170 prevents drafts from entering the spaces 146,147 as do the end walls 134, 135 and panels 151, 152. in other words,the openings into spaces 146, 147 are beneath the upper edges of theashtray structure, so that winds are effectively blocked from blowinginto spaces 146, 147 to distribute ashes therefrom.

As before, the cover may be readily removed for emptying and cleaning ofthe ashtrays, and there are no protruding elements once the cover isremoved to prevent the emptying of both the ashes and the butts. Again,the ashtrays may be constructed of materials suitable for washing inautomatic dishwashers, and all areas of the ashtrays are thoroughlycleaned in automatic dishwashers as there are no confined spaces ineither part of the ashtray. The cover is not readily accidentallydislodged, since the panels 151, 152 are completely covered at theirouter sides by the sidewalls 134, 135, and the handling of the ashtrayby sidewalls 132, 133 is also not likely to dislodge the cover as thecover does not extend outwardly from these sidewalls.

An important feature of the ashtrays is that they may be readily opened,emptied, and cleaned. The cover 16, even though not susceptible toaccidental dislodgment, is easily removed and replaced. The ashtrayshave no spaces within which ashes and butts may be entrapped, as it isof open flaring design at all surfaces. Therefore, the ashtray issuitable for washing in an ordinary automatic dishwasher, and even ifwashed by hand requires no special steps for cleaning other than areordinarily used for dishes.

The metals and plastics of which the ashtray may be made are notsusceptible to breakage, so that the ashtrays will be of long usefullife.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, many modifications thereof may be made by a person skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it isintended to protect by Letters Patent all forms of the invention fallingwithin the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. An ashtray comprising container body means having a bottom wall meansand surrounding sidewall means, upwardly facing ledge means disposedaround the interior side of said sidewall means, cover means removablyresting upon said ledge means at its edge portions and being surroundedoutwardly by said sidewall means, said cover means having opening meanstherethrough and sloping downwardly from said edge portions to saidopening means, and cigarette engaging means adjacent said opening means,partition means across the interior of said container body meansdividing the interior thereof into two receiver spaces, said openingmeans through said cover means extending along said partition means toone side thereof to provide access into one of said receiver spaces,said cover means being sloped downwardly toward said opening means atboth sides thereof, said cigarette engaging means being disposed alongthe edge of said opening means through said cover means at the side ofsaid opening means opposite said partition means, said opening meansthrough said cover means having portions opening into the other of saidreceiver spaces.

2. The combination of claim 1, said cover means having verticallydisposed wall portions at opposite sides thereof at end portions of saidopening means, said container body means having upwardly facing seatmeans at opposite portions of the interior sidewall faces to engage thelower edges of said vertically disposed wall portions of said covermeans.

3. An ashtray comprising container body means having a bottom wall meansand surrounding sidewall means, upwardly facing ledge means disposedaround the interior side of said sidewall means, cover means removablyresting upon said ledge means at its edge portions and being surroundedoutwardly by said sidewall means, said cover means having opening meanstherethrough and sloping downwardly from said edge portions to saidopening means, and cigarette engaging means adjacent said opening means,partition means dividing the interior of said container body means intotwo receiver spaces, said opening means through said cover meansextending along said partition means to one side thereof to provideaccess into one of said receiver spaces, said cigarette engaging meansbeing disposed along the edge of said opening means through said covermeans which is spaced by said opening means from said partition means,said opening means through said cover means having portions opening intothe other of said receiver spaces.

1. An ashtray comprising container body means having a bottom wall meansand surrounding sidewall means, upwardly facing ledge means disposedaround the interior side of said sidewall means, cover means removablyresting upon said ledge means at its edge portions and being surroundedoutwardly by said sidewall means, said cover means having opening meanstherethrough and sloping downwardly from said edge portions to saidopening means, and cigarette engaging means adjacent said opening means,partition means across the interior of said container body meansdividing the interior thereof into two receiver spaces, said openingmeans through said cover means extending along said partition means toone side thereof to provide access into one of said receiver spaces,said cover means being sloped downwardly toward said opening means atboth sides thereof, said cigarette engaging means being disposed alongthe edge of said opening means through said cover means at the side ofsaid opening means opposite said partition means, said opening meansthrough said cover means having portions opening into the other of saidreceiver spaces.
 2. The combination of claim 1, said cover means havingvertically disposed wall portions at opposite sides thereof at endportions of said opening means, said container body means havingupwardly facing seat means at opposite portions of the interior sidewallfaces to engage the lower edges of said vertically disposed wallportions of said cover means.
 3. An ashtray comprising container bodymeans having a bottom wall means and surrounding sidewall means,upwardly facing ledge means disposed around the interior side of saidsidewall means, cover means removably resting upon said ledge means atits edge portions and being surrounded outwardly by said sidewall means,said cover means having opening means therethrough and slopingdownwardly from said edge portions to said opening means, and cigaretteengaging means adjacent said opening means, partition means dividing theinterior of said container body means into two receiver spaces, saidopening means through said cover means extending along said partitionmeans to one side thereof to provide access into one of said receiverspaces, said cigarette engaging means being disposed along the edge ofsaid opening means through said cover means which is spaced by saidopening means from said partition means, said opening means through saidcover means having portions opening into the other of said receiverspaces.